St Columba’s Services
- TODAY: Sunday 8 February at 10.45am – Holy Communion, followed by refreshments
- Thursday 12 February at 11am – Midweek Morning Prayer, followed by refreshments
- Sunday 15 February at 10.45am – Sung Matins, followed by refreshments
- Thursday 19 February at 11am – Midweek Morning Prayer, followed by refreshments.
- Sunday 22 February at 10.45am – Holy Communion, followed by refreshments
- Wednesday 25 February at 7pm – Compline for Lent
- Thursday 26 February at 11am – Midweek Morning Prayer, followed by refreshments.
Ash Wednesday
There will be a Benefice Ash Wednesday Service at Baldersby St James on Wednesday 18 February at 7pm.
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Last Sunday’s quiz was set by Kate and won by Carolyn, Mike, Dave and Nigel. Well done the winners and everyone else to who took part.
Here’s a selection of questions from the quiz. See how you do. The answers are at the end of today’s email.
1. At which royal property did Queen Victoria spend her birthdays?
2. Which Shakespeare play features the character Shylock?
3. What does the Japanese word Sudoku mean?
4. What did Louis Bleriot achieve in 1909 and gain a £1000 reward from the Daily Mail?
5. In which year did Queen Elizabeth open the Humber Bridge?
6. Which colour on the French flag is closest to the flagpole?
7. Name the civil rights activist known for her pivotal role in the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott?
8. In which Scottish town are the Kelpies located?
9. Which UK confectionary assortment was voted in 2025 as having the widest variety of sweets?
10. Ichthyophobia is the fear of what?
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Happy 80th Peter
Friends and neighbours gathered at Green Dairy in Asenby last Monday to celebrate Peter Lowe’s 80th birthday. Happy birthday Peter.
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Sale of marmalade
Last Saturday’s pop-up stall at Asenby Hall, from which Clare Phillips sold her home-made marmalade, was a great success. There’s still a few jars of Seville, Lemon & Lime and Seville & Grapefruit remaining. If you’re interested text Clare on 07593 135310.
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Funeral of Mary Guest
The funeral of Mary Guest, who died on 23 January, aged 85, will take place at Maple Park Crematorium at 1pm on Tuesday 3 March. Her daughter Catherine would welcome friends and neighbours who wish to attend the service and take refreshments afterwards in the Maple Park Cafe.
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The Toll Booth
A survey report about the remedial works needed to preserve and potentially develop the building is now with the Parish Council and the Toll Booth Group. They are reviewing the details and there’ll be a discussion at the next Parish Council meeting, which is yet to be scheduled. Given the financial implications of the next steps, it is understood that the Parish Council will organise consultation with all residents before any decisions are made.
Councillors will be in attendance at the Village Hall Brunch and Open Day on Sunday 22 March and will be pleased to chat to parishioners about this and other village priorities.
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Vote for The Angel as Pub of the Year
Voting is now open for Yorkshire’s Pub of the Year. Dave and Maggie Mathews and their team would be grateful for your vote – https://mylocalawards.co.uk/business/the-angel-inn-topcliffe/
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Group Swimming Lessons for Children
Parents looking for fun, safe and confidence-building swimming lessons for their children aged 4+ might be interested to know that bookings are now being taken for small, supportive group swimming lessons at Woodland Lake Lodges, Carlton Miniott. The instructors, who are fully qualified swimming coaches with lifeguard training, are all DBS checked. Spaces are limited, so get in touch if you are interested. Contact: karen.hotham@awayresorts.co.uk
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The Bread Lady
A mobile artisan bakery, trading as Amos & Welsh, but commonly known as the Bread lady, is often seen at markets across North Yorkshire. Now she visits the main street in Helperby on Sunday mornings between 9.45 and 11.45am. She sells a wide range of fresh artisan bread, including white, wholemeal and sourdough, as well as croissants, pastries, scones, muffins, teacakes and a few other bits and pieces. Everything’s made by hand, from scratch overnight on the Saturday ready for the Sunday sale. The contact number is 07534 085375 and there’s an account on Facebook.
Starting in March, the Bread Lady will be joined by another mobile unit – Kteas Coffee – retailing a range of hot drinks.
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Dalton road closure
The road near Springfield Garage and Water Lane will be closed until 3 April. This is a full road closure and no access will be allowed due to the depth to which workmen will need to excavate. The road closure will be carried out in small sections from the new development entrance near Springfield Garage to Water Lane junction at the bottom of the village. Diversions will be in place.
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Station Road, Thirsk
The saga of protracted roadworks on Station Road continue. The latest update is that there’ll be overnight closures from 6:30pm to midnight for the remainder of the scheme (though it didn’t mention how long that might be).
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Have your say about Thirsk
There’s still time to have your say about how Thirsk should develop in the coming years. The Thirsk Town Investment Plan being prepared by North Yorkshire Council will be a guide regeneration and investment in the town. You can complete a short survey to share your views. The survey is open until Saturday 28 February and there’s one remaining consultation event in Thirsk Community Library on Tuesday 10 February, 1pm to 6pm. You can complete the survey now at: http://yo7.org.uk/nyc
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Art classes in the Village Hall
Here are details of art classes coming up in the Village Hall:
- Calm Winter Art Retreat – a two-day experience using paint and pastels to create fur and feather works on day one or beautiful big skies on day two. Thursday 12 and Friday 13 February, 10am to 3pm. Choose your preferred day or attend both!
- Regular weekly classes – A new block of five classes starts on Monday 23 February – 10am to 12 noon.
- Winter sketch and draw in pencil and charcoal – 10am – 2pm on Thursday 26 February.
- ‘Painting the night in acrylics’ – inspired by the work of Georges Seurat. Friday 6 March, 10am to 2pm.
Also
- Welcoming Lights’ – lighthouses, lanterns or fairy-lights in acrylics – Friday 17 April, 10am to 2pm at Thirsk Town Hall.
For more information and to make a booking, check out the website at https://rebeccajayneartist.co.uk/
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Warm Hub Lunch
The next Warm Hub will take place on Wednesday 18 February between 11.30am and 12.45pm. There’ll be a selection of home-made meals, followed by puddings and tea or coffee. All welcome.
There’s no set charge for Warm Hub meals but donations are requested to help pay the cost of hiring the Village Hall and for essential food and drink items that must be purchased for each lunch. The organisers don’t receive grant support or surplus food from supermarkets: everything is bought and paid for, cooked and brought into the hall by volunteers, many of whom are senior citizens themselves.
The last lunch on 4 February saw 51 meals served. After expenses, £50 was donated to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, with the balance being added to the Warm Hub Community Fund.
Residents of Topcliffe and Asenby can have a meal delivered if they are housebound – either on a short-term basis because of illness, or longer-term. If you wish to have a meal on the day the Warm Hub is held, please get in touch with Karen Morley on 01845 577426.
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Asenby Parish Council meeting
The next meeting of Asenby Parish Council will be held in the upper committee room at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall at 7pm on Wednesday 4 March.
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Village Halls’ Week
As part of this year’s national Village Halls’ Week event, Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee has agreed to hold a Brunch and Open Day on Sunday 22 March between 10.30am and 1pm. Karen Morley and her wonderful team will serve the usual delicious breakfast buns and other refreshments throughout the event. Both Topcliffe Parish Council and Asenby Parish Council have agreed to be present to meet local residents from our two villages. There will also be displays by a number of user groups including the indoor carpet bowls group, boccia club and the regular art class. The slide presentation depicting the whole range of village hall activities has been updated and will be presented on the large screen throughout the day. More elements may be added to this event over the next few weeks.
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Floral workshops at the Catton Kitchen
Ever hopeful that spring is just around the corner the Catton Kitchen is advertising a couple of spring classes with Holly of Tarragon Flowers. Holly joined the team to work on the market garden in February last year and is leading on presenting these special classes, which are:
- Living Wreath Class – Sunday 22 March between 3 and 5pm.
- Spring Table Centre Workshop – Friday 27 March between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.
Check out their website for more details: http://www.thecattonkitchen.co.uk
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Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall – bookings and hire
The Village Hall is available for hire to local organisations, businesses and individuals. It is a superb venue with fully equipped kitchen – an ideal place for family parties. Book online for your event by scanning the QR code or visiting either the Topcliffe or Asenby village websites.
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Chip & Dales
Paul and Karen will be serving fish and chips in Topcliffe on Friday evenings between 5 and 7pm.
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Local traders and businesses
See here for a list of businesses and traders based in or close to Topcliffe.
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EVENTS ACROSS THE WIDER AREA
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The Ritz Cinema
- Rental Family – to 12 February. No matinee.
- The Fifth Step – Friday 13 February at 7.30pm. A National Theatre presentation.
- H is for Hawk – 14 to 19 February. Matinee on Wednesday 18 February.
- Sinners – Friday 20 to Sunday 22 February.
- Sentimental Values – Monday 23 to Thursday 27 February. Matinee Wednesday 26 February.
- Send Help – Friday 28 to Thursday 5 March. No matinee.
- Wuthering Heights – Friday 6 to Thursday 12 March. Matinee Wednesday 12 March.
Evening shows start at 7.30pm. Matinees at 2.30pm.
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Events at Dalton Village Hall
Coffee Morning: The regular monthly coffee morning is on Wednesday 11 February, from 10.30am until noon. There is no set charge, but donations are welcome. Pop along and have a cuppa, a piece of cake and a chat with friends and neighbours.
Pop-Up Pub: There will be a pop-up pub on Friday 13 February from 7pm. Families welcome.
Pop-Up Café: There will be a pop-up cafe on Saturday 21 February from 9.30am until 11am. Bacon or sausage sandwiches and toasted teacakes, along with tea, coffee, with juice for the children. Everyone welcome.
Domino Drive; The next Domino Drive will be on Saturday 22 February at 7pm. Entrance is £2, with £1 for 5 raffle tickets. Tea and biscuits will be served at the interval.
Craft Classes: Held on the first Wednesday of the month from 9.30am until 3pm. New members are welcome. Contact Lois Gillie for details on 01423 325608.
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Events at Rural Arts, The Courthouse, Thirsk
- Watercolour and Calligraphy – Explore watercolour and calligraphy in this two-hour workshop with artist Dove Armistead. Learn colour, composition, and lettering while creating personalised pieces. Includes all materials and a hot drink. Perfect for beginners. Wednesday 11 February. 10.30am to 1pm. £25.
- Macrame Wall Hangings – Join artist Claire Ford for a three-hour workshop where you’ll learn the art of macramé and create your own stunning wall hanging. Friday 13 February 10.30am to 1.30pm. £35.
- Paint Your Partner – Celebrate this Valentines with this new paint your partner experience. Enjoy a savoury platter for two and be guided by our in-house artist to create your masterpiece. Saturday 14 February 7pm – 9pm. £40pp.
- Family Make and Create – These free, family make and create drop-in sessions are on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 February between 10am and 2pm. Explore self-led creativity with materials provided. Please book in to help manage numbers. All children must be accompanied.
- Family Carnival Music – Get into the Mardi Gras spirit. Join Mambo Jambo for a family workshop exploring New Orleans carnival tunes, singing, body percussion, and Brazilian rhythms on simple hand percussion. No experience needed. Thursday 19 February between 1:45pm-2:30pm or 3pm -3:45pm. £7pp.
- Family Music: Mambo Jambo – Enjoy an upbeat evening with Mambo Jambo, an eclectic duo who blend roots, jazz, world, folk, and bluegrass, whisking you away to carnivals and fiestas with vibrant tunes, stories, and a suitcase full of instruments. Thursday 19 February at 6:30pm. £8pp or £30 for 4.
- Indoor Mosaic Plaque- Join mosaic artist Sue Kershaw for a creative workshop making a 22cm indoor plaque. Learn techniques, choose vibrant materials, and enjoy morning refreshments and lunch. Friday 27 February, 10:30am – 4:30pm. £90.
- Candle Painting and Cocktails – Sip a cocktail and paint beautiful decorative candles in a relaxed, welcoming space. All materials are provided, so you can focus on enjoying the process and creating something unique to take home. Friday 27 February, 7:00pm – 9:00pm. £25.
Buy tickets online at https://www.ruralarts.org/
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Moors Dark Skies Festival
Celebrate the wonders of our skies and explore this incredible International Dark Sky Reserve in the peak of the stargazing season. Twenty-three different events at places all over the North York Moors, including Sutton Bank. Friday 13 to Saturday 28 February. Check out further details and book places on the website: http://darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/northyork-moors-events
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Thirsk Artisan Market
Sunday 15 February between 10am and 3pm. An artisan market that wants to help serve local communities with the best artisan stalls, whilst giving traders an opportunity to showcase and sell their handmade goods.
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Thorp Perrow Arboretum
Until Sunday 15 February 2026 admission is at half price.
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Repair Cafe
Be greener by avoiding waste and save money by letting a team of dedicated and talented volunteers try to repair your broken or worn-out items. Saturday 21 February between 10am and 1pm at Thirsk Community Library, Meadowfields. Voluntary donation for work undertaken.
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Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange
The Coffee and Chatter Group that meets in St James’ Church at Baldersby St James will be holding jigsaw puzzle exchanges on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The next ‘exchange’ is on Tuesday 24 February between 10am and 12 noon. Please take along any puzzles that you would like to swap. This is a great opportunity to obtain new ones without having to buy them.
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Concerts and Events at Ripon Cathedral
- Bruce Springsteen by Candlelight – Saturday 28 February at 7.30pm.
- 70s Disco Hits by Candlelight – Friday 10 April at 7.30pm.
Book online at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/
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Thirsk Farmers’ Market
At this market in Market Place, Thirsk, all stallholders are local independent businesses who grow, rear or produce the food or drink on their stall. They’re passionate about what they do and it shows. Sunday 1 March, 9am-2pm.
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Quiz answers
Last week’s decider: The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986.
1. Osborne House on the Isle of Wight
2. The Merchant of Venice
3. Single numbers
4. Became the first person to fly a powered plane across the English Channel
5. 1981
6. Red
7. Rosa Parks
8. Falkirk
9. Quality Street
10. Fish.
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That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.
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